IBM FlashSystem 7200 – Product Analysis

The IBM FlashSystem 7200 is a mid-tier block-storage system capable of virtualizing all attached disks and other attached storage systems. The 7200 uses the IBM Spectrum Virtualize software from the IBM SAN Volume Controller for the embedded system software. The 7200 has both internal storage of flash devices with expansion enclosures for flash or HDDs storage devices and the ability to virtualize externally attached storage systems. FlashSystem 7200 starts with a dual controller configuration and can scale out to 8 controllers (4 pairs). The FlashSystem 7200 is an evolution of the IBM Storwize V7000 that was rebranded to join the FlashSystem product line along with the 5000, 5100, and 9200 systems. FlashSystem 7200 supports end-to-end NVMe and Flash Core Modules (FCMs) and is available as an all flash system as well as a hybrid model, the 7200H.

The IBM FlashSystem 7200 includes inline data reduction of primary data. Data is deduplicated, compressed, and compacted as it is transferred from cache to the storage devices or to external storage systems. Use of processor chipset hardware allows the data reduction to be done without performance impact. Flash Core Modules also support device level compression and encryption.
Competitive storage solutions include the Dell EMC PowerStore, HDS VSP Midrange, and HPE Primera while the virtualization solutions competition includes Hitachi Data Systems VSP, NetApp FAS with FlexArray, Huawei OceanStor, and DataCore. Additional information on these products is available in ESR to authorized subscribers.